Grain cleaner and grader



Feb. 17, 1931. .F RUNGE 1,793,617.

GRAIN CLEANER AND GRADER Filed Feb. 27, 192s 2 sheets-sheet@ Feb. 17, 1931. J. F. RUNGE 1,793,017

GRAIN CLEANER` AND GRADER Filed Feb. 27, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 17, 1931 PATEN-r vor-FICE JOHN F. Runen, or SPENCER, IOWA GRAIN CLEANER AND GRADEIR Application led February 27, 1928. Serial No. 257,238."

The object of my present invention is to provide aV grain cleaner and grader oit' simple, durable and inexpensive construction.

It is my purpose to providesuch `a grain cleaner and grader that can be made in differentsizes for hand or `power operation and for cleaning and grading agreat variety of seeds in such quantities as may be desired.

Another purpose of my invention is to provide numerous novel features of construction, includingfeatures whereby the shaker screens are mounted and operated.

4Another purpose is to provide a novel Jform of removable and interchangeable grader cones, and means for operating the same, whereby the machine can be readily adapted for cleaning and grading different kinds of seed.

With these and other objects in view, my

invention consists in fthe construction, ar-

rangement and combination of the various parts of my grain cleaner and grader, where-` by the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed'o'ut in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: y v

Figure 1 is a top or plan view of a grain cleaner and grader embodying my invention.

Figure 2 shows a side elevation of the same.

Figure 3 is a detail, sectional view taken on the line 3 3 'of Figure 1,.

Figure 4 is a detail, sectional view taken` on the line 4-4 ofFigure 3.

Figure is a detail, sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 3.v

Figure 6 is a front elevation of one of the removable cone units.

Figure 7 isa detail, sectional view taken on the line 7-7 of Figure 3. i

ings for the cone shaft.

Figure 9 is a detail, sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of Figure 6; and

Figure 10 is a'perspective view of one end 'd of the grader cone shaft.A

My improved machine comprises suitable supporting frame membersyin the form of uprights indicated generally by the reference character 10, of which there are four arranged preferably in a square.

Figure 8 is a plan view of one of the bear- Y Extending rearwardiy from two of the members 10 are the side frame members 12, which at their vfront ends have thesupport-V ing legs 14. Y Y

' The whole device may ormay not be pro-V vided with a base 16. Y i Y Suitably supported on the upright members 10 are laterally spaced side plates 18, which form casing membersfor` the shakerscreen assembly. Extending across thefdevice between the upper parts of the side members 18 are cross bars'20,.which detachably support the hopper 22. The hopper 22 has in Y its bottoma discharge opening For adjustably controlling the size of the opening. 24, I provide a closure member 26, having a handle 27 slidably mounted ina guide 28. Secured to the underside of the hopper 22 are angle bars 30, which coact with the cross bars 2O for holding the hopper in proper position. Y

The controlling handle 27 is also slidably mounted between one of the bars 30 and the bottom of the hopper 22.

Arranged` to receive grain or seed dis"-V charged from the vopening 24 in the hopperv 22, I provide shaker` screens 32, which `are part of a shaker screen assembly, which will now be described. l

Thisv assembly comprises a pair of spaced side wall members 34 of the peculiar shape shown in Figures 2 and 3, inset vin corresponding openings 36 in the respective side Y wall members 18 for lateral reciprocationiV Theside wall members 34 are `connected by cross rods 38, 40, 42, 44 and 46. The rod' 46 is mounted at the front of' the machine and may be arranged in anyone of a series of laterally spaced pairs of holes 48.

Pivoted to the rod 38 is a hinged deck .or chute member 50, which is inclined downwardly and orwardlyand normally has its forward end resting on the rod 40, as shown in Figure 3.

The deck 50 stands normally Vjust below the l' discharge opening 24 atthe bottom ofthe hopper 22. i

I provide detachably mounted shaker screens 32, already referred to. These screens are made in a unit, comprising a pair of superposed spaced, screen members carried by a frame, ha ving thn transverse elements 52 and the longitudinal frame niembers 54A The rearward ends of the side members 54 have notches 56 (see Figure 8), which ree ceive the forward edge of the deck and the forward end of the shaker screen unit rests on the rod 46.

I ind that the shaker screen assembly can be held by friction between the walls against accidental displacement, but other fastening means may be employed if necessary, for instance by connecting the side members 54 of the shaker screen unit with the deck member 50.

The deck member 50 and the shaker screens are ordinarily used in such an arrangement that they are inclined from the rod 88 downwardly and forwardly in the machine.

Arranged below the shaker screen and inclined from the forward end of the machine downwardly and rearwardly is a cri s screen 58 from which grain or the like is discharged upon a solid bot-tom member 60 extended from the lower rearward end of the screen 58 substantially in the same plane rearwardA ly and downwardly, as shown in Figur I3.

Below the screen 58 is an inclined bottom member 62, arranged between the side walls 34 for discharging dirt and very small seed and the like.

The shaker screen unit is mounted for lateral reciprocation in the following manner:

On the outer surf ees of the side walls 84 are mounted projecting members 64. Flat resilient members 66 are hung on the side members 18, as by means of hook-shaped portions 68 projecting through slots (i9 and thence inclined downwardly and outwardly, as shown in Figure 4,. and aionnd the outer portions of the members 64 and thence inwardly laterally toward and preferably to the walls 34. Y

The lower parts of the spring members et' may be secured to the men'rbers G4 or to the walls 34 or to both. Their resiliency tends to hold the shaker screen unit at its central position.

The mechanism for reciprocating the shaker screen unit will be hereinafter described.

Located rearwardly and below the dis charge opening 24 of the hopper Q2 is a` fan casing 70, in which a fan 72 is mounted on a transversely, supported shaft 7 4.

The fan casing has a discharge mouth 7G located slightly forwardly with relation to and below the opening 24 in such manner as to discharge forwardly and slightly npwardly in the machine as indicated by the arrows at 78 and 80.

The forward supporting members lO are connected by an angle iron brace 82 and the rearward members l0 are supported by an angle iron brace 84.

Suitably supported on the frame of the machine at the discharge end of the bottom member GO is a short chute 8G, which discharges into the central, vupper end of the grading unit. One of these grading units, I will now describe. I use different units for handling different kinds of grain.

Each unit comprises an outer, iniperforate tubular member 88, having the form genen ally of a hollow, truncated cone with its larger end at the. rear part of the machine and with its smaller', forward end provided with the end closure member' 90, having the central opening 92 to receive grain discharged from the chute 86.

The imperforate cone 88 is used with a pair of inner conical screens. The inner conical screens are detachable from the cone 88, so aS to make it possible to use inner conical screens with different sizes of perforations or meshes of screen for different kinds of grain.

In Figures 8, 5 and 6, l have illustrated the conical screens and in Figures 7, 8, 9 and lO certain details of their struct-ure.

The inner conical screens really consist of an outer conical screen 94 of foraminous material. This may be either meshed wire, aperforated sheet or otherwise.

The conical screen 94 has the form of a truncated cone and designed to tit inside the cone 88, spaced from the wall thereof, as shown in Figure 8,

Nithin the conical screen 94 is a similar, inwardly spaced, smaller conical screen 9G.

The conical screens 94 and 96 are connected together by means of bolts 98 on which between the cones are the spaced sleeves 100.

it the forward, smaller end of the conical screens 94 and 9G, they are provided with a disc 102, having a central opening 104 to register with the hole 92 in the rear end of the conc 88.

As shown in Figure 6, the conical screens 94 and 98 are made in separate halves. The halves of the conical. screen 94 may be secured together in any suitable way.

As here shown, the halves of the conical screen 94 are provided along their adjacent edges with coacting hinge members 106 and 108, having the rolled or tubular portions to receive a long locking rod or pintle 110 (see Figures 3 and G).

if the locking rod 110 on one side is withdrawn and the one on the other side is left in position, the conical screens 94 and 96 may be swung to open position, as on a hinge (see Figure (l).

lt will, of course, be understood that the end disc 102 is likewise made in halves.

On the inside of the halves of each conical screens and 98, I provide a series of members, which serve a triple purpose, to-wit, as means by which the conical screens 96 and 94 may be mounted on their shaft 112, brac-r ing and reinforcing means for the cones, and means for advancing the grain in the inner' cone.

Referring to Figure 6, it will be seen that extending substantially diametrically across the open part of each half of the member 96 is a brace or the like 114, which may have the angle foot 116 mounted on one of the bolts 98.

it the middle of the brace 114 is a notch 118 to receive the shaft 112. Extending from the central portion of the brace 114 radially outward at a ninety degree angle'of the brace 114 is a brace member 120 with a .foot `116 similar' to that already described, preferably mounted on one of the bolts 98.

The braces 114 and 120 are provided with flanges 122 inclined at a substantially forty.

live degree angle, which serveas wings for helping to advance the grain toward the discharge end of the cone. v

The conical screen 94 is slightly longer than the cone 88 and projects from the rear end thereof, and the conical screen 96 is slightly longer than the conical screen 94, and projects beyond the rear end thereof. This is .for convenience in controlling the discharging grain. Y

The assembly comprising the conical screens 94 and 96 and the parts for connecting them together and mounting them on the shaft 112 are made separable from the shaft and the cone 88, so that different vunits may be employed for different kinds of grain. j

The shaft 112 is journaled in bearings on transverseframe members 124.

In Figure 7 ,I have shown one of these bearings in detail. Each bearing comprises a lower bearing member 128 mounted on one of the frame members, as for instance the frame member 124 and fixed thereto. Above the bearing member 128 is the upper removable journal or bearing member 130. The bearing member 130 (see Figures 7 and 8) has laterally projecting feet 13005 having the elongated slots 132. Mounted in the bearing'member 128 and the frame member to which it is attached are the vertically slidable locking bolts or rods 134 normally held intheir lower positions of movement by means of springs 13G.

At the upper parts of the locking bolts 134 are lateral projections or iingers'138. f

Y The parts are so arranged that when the re movable bearing member'130 isl installed in position on the bearing member 128, the locking bolts 134 may be moved to'diferent positions. rllhc right-hand bolt in Figures 7 and 8 is turned to positions-where the projection 138 extends over the foot 130e, while the leftq hand bolt has been adjusted to positionwhere it registers with the slot 132.

When the bolts are in their position shown at the left-hand parts of Figures 7 and 8,it'y will be seen that the bearing member 130` may be removed while when the bolts are in their position shown at the right-hand sides 140 from which project oppositely extending lingers 142 adapted to coact the braces 114 and; flanges 122 by entering the channel formed by said braces and flanges, so that when the shaft is rotated, the cone assembly will be rotated with it.

I shall briefly describe the manner of asi sembling one of the cone grader units and in this connection the construction thereof will perhaps more clearly appear.

Assume that itis desired to grade seed of a certain kind.

The assembly which has the conical screens 94 and 96 with the proper sized perforations for the purpose is selected. The shaft 112 is placed in the notches 118 and the cone halves are swung together from the position shown in Figure 6 to position for instance'shown in Figures 3 or 5. i

The assembly consisting of the conical screens 94 and 96 in the shaft 112 is then shoved lengthwise into the cone 88. The conical screen 88 is locked to the outer cone 94 by means of bolts 144 (see Figure 3).

The end disc 102is of greater diameter than Y the small end of the conical screen 94 and fits just inside the smallend of the cone 88. 'It thus serves to keep the cone 88 properly centered on the conical screen 94.

The entire cone and conical screen assembly is then lifted and set into place with the shaft 112 received in the bearing members 128, after which the bearing members 130 are assembled in place. s

The frame at therear end of the conical screen grader assembly is provided with a plurality of dischargerchutes 146, 148 and 150V for receiving grainY or seed discharged fromV thecone 88, and the conical screens 94 and 96 respectively.

.ljshall now describe the gearing connections `for my improvedV grain cleanerand grader.

Supported on the frame of the machine as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 5 is a bracket 152.

' Suitably mounted on the bracket 152 and the frame lof the machine is a stub shaft 154 on the outer end of which is a crank handle 155. On the shaft 154 is a gear 156, which meshes with a smallv pinion 158 on the fan shaft 74.

1t will thus be seen that by rotating the shaft 154 through the operation of the crank iandl'e 155' or from any source of power, ro

tation will be imparted through the gear and pinion 156 and158 to the fan shaft 74 and the fan. On the shaft 74 is a short arm 16() to which is pivoted one end of a pitman 162 projecting forwardly in the machine.

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Yche central portion of a bell cranl; lever 161 s piroted ae et 166 on the iframe of the muc-nine adjaceni to the shaker seven unit eli-radi.' dei frihed. The for rd end oil' ihe pi ,man piroted to one :wm of the helll freni; lever lol and the. other erm-of that lever is' pitf'oted to one of the welle El of the shaker Screen rl'he member 1bn is; i brace for the bra liet Y Thi.` shaiii und the coniL 'nl grader scree is :ire operated from the she. t 74; in the fo` lowing manner: On the opposite end of i t "il boni tlmharing pinion S i a felt pulley 170. @n 'the ehei't 112 z belt pu ley 152 Figuree 2, 3 und Supper f i on the i'Lenie oi the ine-chine below ihe elt pulley 170 are belt pulleye` '17d and liti. shown for instance in Figure 5, inclined at orope an.: A beit H8 is cxtendcd over the pullej,y 1Y0 around the respective pulieyeI lil end 1in rind around the pulley 172.

l :shall now deecri l te lie somewhat in eel'nil i the ooeration or my Jaun-overl machine.

r'rssuming that a certain kind of Seed is lo he cleaned and graded, for example, wheat, the operzilor, as result of his experience, adjusts the closure member 2-(5 for lining ldie size ei ihe opening` 2li for the proper diechareje of wheat to the machine. He then .s lrcts the proper shaker screens `for wheat d mounts th im in the shaker screen aseembly.

'.llhen he adjusts the iorwerd ends of the shaker fscieeirsv hy raising or lowering the rod lo and inserting il; in the proper holes 4.8. He ihen Selects Jdie proper grading con ical screen Si and 9G :ind assen'ibles them in ihe cone "TQ on the Sha't 112 in the manner l (JL) ltoore dencrihed. ,rain ie sniplied to the hopper and n ille sin-ift rotated, motion will be i .n to the eheit (4. rlhe ian is thus .lrzited for hlew'irg` :i blast of air from the 'iin cosine; through the screens as indi- 'sited by the arrows at 78 and 80. rl`he rote.- "fn of the Shift Q11-, al.V o imperio reciprocatingminiemen* t the pitman 162 for reciprocating the ell crei l; lever 16d- (ssee Fig- L h uref: 1 sind end thurs imparting to the shalt?.

Oreii et the disand causes the the decl; f nfl the shulier screens he very coarse content lient-ed e@ at 180 (Figure passes over the screens 32 :ind is disc arged. Liliewise the air blast will blow ont line duet and lille articles, such as siren' 181.

All the grain, including dirt, dust. and line Seed, paseos down .fardly through the screens S2 and drops upon the screen V58,

which permits line dirt and very smell seeds to drop through, as indicated at 182.

The line dirt drops upon the member 62 and is discharged.

The remaining' seed travels rearwardly and downwardly on the screen 58 to the bottom or chute member (SO and discharged down Idie chui/e 8G to the conical grader screens.

The discharge of the chute 86 is to the ineonical screen 9G through the holes 92 and 101 at the rear ends of lhe cone 88 and ille, eonicel Screens 94 and 96.

'lll slnilt i12 is roatcd llronl the shaft The haii 112 rotntcs clockwise (con'idering that one is l. iolcing' forwardly from the rear end olf the machine viewed in Figure xe'ers M2 engage between the braces linges T22 and between the braces jesy 122 ior causing the conce` :o

. .l :nr che @ed from its lower end 1 1 in .hroufru the lu .je iol). lt 1:5 advanced becarie.

Grain also advanced by the {langes 12:2. which tend to hiel: it toward the rear end ol.

the .imichine A Slightly smaller grade oi seed, perhaps No. 2 wheat, will pass through the meshes or perforations oi the conical screen 96 into the conical screen 94, and will be disclmrgred thrmgh the chute 148.

Some smaller seed, liner weed s "ed and the like, will pass through the meshes ol: the cone 91.1. into the imperi'orate cone S8 :and will he discharged through the chute llo.

lt will be seen l'rom the foregoing' ilnit .i have provided a comparatively simple macli-ine, which can he used in larger or smaller zes for hand or power operation.

By changing the el alrer screens and the. grading cones, the machine may be used for g aiding and cles. une' clover seed, wheat or many other kinds of seed.

TWith a little experience, I lind that seed cen he cleaned and graded very eliectively.

A machine of this kind con be made in sizes for use on ordinary ferme, where it nn he used for grading` grain, particularly. where it is desired to remove weed seed from groin, which is tobe employed for seeding purposes.

Changes may be made in the construction, find arrangement oi the various ports oil my improved machine without departing' from the real spirit und purpoee of. .my invention, und it is my intention to cover by my claims. any modilied forms of structure or use ol mechanical. equivalents, which muy be reason ehly included within their scope.

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I claim as my invention:

1. In a rotating screenstructure, a shaft, spokes thereon having flanges, a finger on the shaft to coact with the flanges, the outer ends of the spokes being longitudinal with respect to the shaft, radially eXending bolts through said outer ends, spacers on said bolts and a tubular screen at each end of the spacers and spaced thereby.

2. In a machine of the class-described, a*`

shaft, a grading screen unit comprising a pair of screens, Vone spaced Within the other, spokes on said shaft, said inner screen being supported on said spokes, bolt and sleeve means U for holding the ftwo screens supported inV spaced relationrto each other and for fastening the inner screen to the spokes.

Des Moines, Iowa, February 9, 1928.

' JOHN F. RNGE. 

